Contents

One of the most stunning sights in the White March, the Battery was founded by Pargrun dwarves hailing from the Grand Empire of Vailia (though not imperial colonists).[2]Abydon's call led the settlers north, deep into the Reach, after generations spent living along the Pearl Coast and Eir Glanfath. In the course of their journeys, the Pargrunen located Clîaban Rilag and investigated the Engwithan animat forges within the lower levels, studying the process of their manufacture and soul-infusion in detail and salvaging animats for further research. The mastery of soul manipulation and transference left a lasting mark on the expedition, which pushed on further north, inspired by what they found.[3] Eventually, they entered the White March and found the future site of the Battery, a place where the confluence of magma and adra created an uniquely powerful site, one where they speculated that Abydon forged his bronze body.[4]

They were somewhat correct. The White Forge was indeed a site of immense power, never meant for mortal use. It was where Abydon, when he still had a body of flesh and bone, forged his hammer and created the army of the Eyeless. The dwarves harnessed the forge, building the fortress around it a manufactory and shrine to Abydon. The Forge proved immensely powerful, its fires fed by streams of magma from an active volcano buried beneath the March and veined with adra that runs to the center of the world. The ancient dragon carved out of stone continued its silent vigil, though the dwarves modified it extensively. The maw was filled with a network of steel dividers, tubes and vents, with a pair of golden rings set into the sockets to accept adra spheres. The resulting facility leveraged the unique power of the fires, using adra veins to siphon essence into steel as the dwarves shaped it. Durgan steel became known as the finest in the world thanks to the combination of essence siphoning, excellent and consistent heat of the forge, and dwarven skill.[4] The refineries also produced extremely high quality copper that was used in coinage, art, and jewelry.[5]

The Battery was torn apart by a conflict between its komendants: Chief Curate Exandru, Armswarden Marunn, and Coinmaster Zoltun. The dwarves divided themselves along ideological lines, disagreeing over the use of Durgan's steel. The three komendants represented faith, ambition, and greed respectively. Exandru would have them turn the Battery into a monastery, defended by Forge Guardians, while Marunn would have them continue the Pargrunen tradition of expansion and exploration, bolstered by the steel from the White Forge. Zoltun, on the other hand, was interested only in money and beautifying the fortress, turning it into a palace and monument to commerce. All three refused to work together and couldn't even agree on work orders, giving Master Smith Vasel no small amount of headaches.[6][7]

However, although the Battery degenerated into political factions and the komandants couldn't agree on virtually anything, their disagreements weren't a direct cause of the collapse. The Eyeless led an invasion of the Battery circa 2623 AI, smashing through dwarven defenses. Weakened by limited production and inefficient leadership, the dwarves nonetheless attempted to defend themselves against the threat. All they did was delay the invaders as they smashed through walls, doors, and barricades, pulverizing any dwarves that stood in their way. In desperation, the komandants ordered the remaining dwarves to retreat to the Forge, using its unique powers to transfer their souls out of their bodies and into the Battery itself: Its doors, walls, machines, everything, and sealing the Battery. The great piles of corpses eventually rotted away, leaving behind a legion of souls bound to the very fabric of the fortress, with no sense of the passage of time.[4]

Together with the Battery, the secrets of the armory and steel were lost.[8] Not long after, the other Pargrun settlements across the March, like Bonepicker or the Hawk, were evacuated by the Pargrunen, who decided to return to more pleasant climates south, along the Pearl Coast. Countless adventurers tried to crack the Battery since, including parties funded by the Aedyr Empire and the Vailian Republics, to no avail. Even the Leaden Key attempted to breach it in 2823 AI, only ending up as fodder for the local ogres.

The Watcher, as the new Roadwarden of Caed Nua, was petitioned by Stalwart to aid in opening the Battery, which coincided with the Leaden Key's attempts to breach its defenses.

Gamepedia

Tools

Content is available under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted.Pillars of Eternity content and materials are trademarks and copyrights of Obsidian Entertainment and its licensors. All rights reserved.
This site is a part of Curse, Inc. and is not affiliated with Obsidian Entertainment.